Constraints on Nucleon Decay via "Invisible" Modes from the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Data from the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory have been used to constrain the lifetime for nucleon decay to ``invisible'' modes, such as n -> 3 nu. The analysis was based on a search for gamma-rays from the de-excitation of the residual nucleus that would result from the disappearance of either a proton or neutron from O16. A limit of tau_inv > 2 x 10^{29} years is obtained at 90% confidence for either neutron or proton decay modes. This is about an order of magnitude more stringent than previous constraints on invisible proton decay modes and 400 times more stringent than similar neutron modes.Comment: Update includes missing efficiency factor (limits change by factor of 2) Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Correlates of Out-of-Pocket and Catastrophic Health Expenditures in Tanzania: Results from a National Household Survey.

Inequality in health services access and utilization are influenced by out-of-pocket health expenditures in many low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Various antecedents such as social factors, poor health and economic factors are proposed to direct the choice of health care service use and incurring out-of-pocket payments. We investigated the association of these factors with out-of-pocket health expenditures among the adult and older population in the United Republic of Tanzania. We also investigated the prevalence and associated determinants contributing to household catastrophic health expenditures. We accessed the data of a multistage stratified random sample of 7279 adult participants, aged between 18 and 59 years, as well as 1018 participants aged above 60 years, from the first round of the Tanzania National Panel survey. We employed multiple generalized linear and logistic regression models to evaluate the correlates of out-of-pocket as well as catastrophic health expenditures, accounting for the complex sample design effects. Increasing age, female gender, obesity and functional disability increased the adults' out-of-pocket health expenditures significantly, while functional disability and visits to traditional healers increased the out-of-pocket health expenditures in older participants. Adult participants, who lacked formal education or worked as manual laborers earned significantly less (p < 0.001) and spent less on health (p < 0.001), despite having higher levels of disability. Large household size, household head's occupation as a manual laborer, household member with chronic illness, domestic violence against women and traditional healer's visits were significantly associated with high catastrophic health expenditures. We observed that the prevalence of inequalities in socioeconomic factors played a significant role in determining the nature of both out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditures. We propose that investment in social welfare programs and strengthening the social security mechanisms could reduce the financial burden in United Republic of Tanzania

Measurement of day and night neutrino energy spectra at SNO and constraints on neutrino mixing parameters

The measurement of day and night neutrino energy spectra at Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) and constraints on neutrino mixing parameters were presented. A global solar neutrino analysis in terms of matter-enhanced oscillations of two active flavors strongly favored the large mixing angle solution. Results obtained were the first direct measurements of the day-night asymmetries in the νe flux and the total ν flux from the Sun was deduced

Neutral current and day night measurements from the pure D2O phase of SNO

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory is a 1000 T D2O Cerenkov detector that is sensitive to B-8 solar neutrinos. The energy, radius, and direction with respect to the sun is Measured for each neutrino event; these distributions are used to separately determine the rates of the charged current, neutral current and electron scattering reactions of neutrinos on deuterium. Assuming an undistorted B-8 spectrum, the nu(e) component of the B-8 solar flux is phi(e) = 1.76(-0.05)(+0.05) (stat.)(-0.09)(+0.09) (syst.) X 10(6) cm(-2)s(-1) based on events with a measured kinetic energy above 5 MeV. The non-nu(e) component is phi(mutau) = 3.41(-0.45)(+0.45)(stat.)(-0.45)(+0.48) (syst.) X 10(6) cm(-2)s(-1), 5.3sigma greater than zero, providing strong evidence for solar nu(e) flavor transformation. The total flux measured with the NC reaction is phi(NC) = 5.09(-0.43)(+0.44) (stat.)(-0.43)(+0.46) (syst.) X 10(6) cm(-2)s(-1), consistent with solar models. The night minus day rate is 14.0% +/- 6.3%(+1.5)(-1.4)% of the average rate. If the total flux of active neutrinos is additionally constrained to have no asymmetry, the nu(e) asymmetry is found to be 7.0% +/- 4.9%(+1.3)(-1.2)%. A global solar neutrino analysis in terms of matter-enhanced oscillations of two active flavors strongly favors the Large Mixing Angle (LMA) solution